Thank you for your enlightening responses. First id like to say that my questions were not meant to be mocking. They were geniuine questions and i thank you for giving me serious anwsers.

I have looked at the cartoons, and i do not see what makes the image in the cartoon be associated with Mohammed (PBUH). When i first looked at the cartoon it looked to me like it was a depiction of an average person of Arabic origins. In a western society we are used to seeing political cartoons where they make fun of politicians, presidents and even religious figures.

Im not so sure about the double standards. Christianity is made fun of in comedy clubs, in social talk, people speak of not going to church every sunday as if its something to be proud of. This is very shamefull. I do not disagree that a Danish newspaper refused to print bad things about Christianity, but let me bring into light some religious blasphemies that have happened to the Christians in the United States. And let me point out they they were supported by the US government, the same one that now refuses to reprint the infamous cartoon.

Art work by Chris Ofili, The Holy Virgin Mary (PBUH?) featured the Mother of Jesus (PBUH) as a work of art with elephant dung smeared on the painting as well as cutouts of pornographic pictures. When then mayor of NY tried to get the exibition to close early, the courts decided that he has no right to do so.

Another work was Andres Serrano Piss Christ Once again i do believe it was backed by public funding and shown on display for everybody to see. This work of art features a Crucifix dipped in a jar of urine. Im sure i dont need to tell this to anyone that a Crucifix is a sacred object in Christianity.

There were protests about these works, but they were never as violent as the protests that i hear of in the Middle East. And in my opinion these two "works of art" were a bit more derogatory than a cartoon. Again, as an outsider my view is probably different than yours, but dont take any offense, as it is not my intention to offend anyone here.

Assalam Alaikum,

Well all the above incidents that you have mentioned, I find them to be tasteless and I do not tolerate anyone to have such liberty to mock any Messenger of God. That is precisly the point, that we as a globalized society cannot tolerate people who take it upon themselves to mock their beliefs and other people beliefs, and later to hide behind the curtains of FREEDOM OF SOMETHING.

From my experience living in a western society, for many religion is the last thing in their mind and they think its okay to make fun of it, but I think if they can't follow it, what gives them a right to make fun of it. I find any insult against Jesus PBUH, as insulting to my belief as I find those cartoons against Prophet Mohammad PBUH. 1 Billion Muslims in every corner of the world put their religion before their lives, and anything that is remotely insulting to our belief or against our holy figures such as JESUS PBUH, Mohammad PBUH or any other such respectable figure is dealt with iron fist.

I am sure same is the case with the followers of Christianity, and any other religion.

This matter is not limited to Muslims, it should be the concern to all of us in the civilized world because I am sure all of us hold our religion and beliefs near and dear to our hearts.

I don't think that even the SO CALLED FANATIC ISLAMIST, would dare to make such insults to Christianity and Judaism or any other religion. Look at the oppression that is going in the Middle East, people die every day (more muslims than anybody else), but did u see any of them blaming their hardships on the Teachings of Judaism or Christianity.

The West is successfully portraying every follower of Islam to be questionable because they are MUSLIMS. every Muslims who has a beard is considered to be fanatic and such...then they say that we are overreacting to such pathetic incidents as the caricatures published in the media.

Thanks.

Peace to you,

Brother first I would like to congratulate you on showing your interest in such a debatable issue of caricatures and more precisely in the religion of Islam.

Yes I am fully aware and I do believe in your statements that there are indeed some other examples in the west where people even mock Jesus (PBUH) and Virgin Mary (PBUH) [writing Peace be upon Her after The Virgin Mary is the right statement as we respect them all]

But as I’ve said before, we condemn all those blasphemous attempts that target the Holy People.

Those caricatures may not look blasphemous to you as it’s a routine for you to face such blasphemies, but to us they are and that is the reason why we are protesting and you are not.

Now coming to your query that why there is a difference among the protests between the two civilizations?

Brother, in Judaism the rule is “Eye for an Eye” (Old Testament) means if someone hits you, you have to hit him back to level the scores, regardless of the situation. And I am sure that the Jews of modern day aren’t acting on this philosophy otherwise they’ll be killing Christians and Germans for what Adolf Hitler did to them.

In Christianity the rule is “forgive and you’ll be forgiven” but even then much similar protests (as you’ve said) are there and not only protests but the retaliation is there in the shape of Afghanistan and Iraq, which is against the teaching of Christianity. But then again, you can’t take slaps all day on your cheeks by your enemies, it’s illogical.

The rule in Islam (which means peace) is to forgive which is preferable because God Almighty loves those who forgives, but if you can’t then you can also retaliate; you can’t have Peace by taking slaps all day on your cheeks. That is why Islam is called the middle way or the right way. The protest in the Middle East and throughout the world is only an example that we Muslims absolutely cannot take any blasphemous attack on our Beloved Prophet (PBUH). Those who did it must not go unpunished, unless they repent and apologize.

Hope it will answer your question.

God Bless You.

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Swear not at all, let your yes be yes & your no be no – Jesus Christ (PBUH)

Asalamo-alaikum
Here I m addressing the whole Muslim Ummah and its representative OIC.The OIC is merely (Oh I see) and there is no practical implications yet seen.There should be a force for Muslims like NATO for EU states.
Unless and until we will not unite our selves we will be degraded in the same manner.What are the reasons for the current plight of muslims..like in IRaq,Palestine.Kashmir..and all over the world..we should recall poems of our gr8 poet Allama Iqbal i.e Shikwa n Jawab-e-Shikwa..and should learn some lesson.
Muslims are respondible for their Own situation.

Just wanted to tell that there's already a discussion going on about OIC. You can log all your complaints and give your suggestions regarding the organization over there. Here's the link http://www.cssforum.com.pk/showthread.php?t=2607&page=2

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Swear not at all, let your yes be yes & your no be no – Jesus Christ (PBUH)